McCain says Obama policies bad for business

--AP story

You want to know what's bad for business?  A recession.  And inflation.  And a weakening dollar.  And rising gas prices.  And a war that isn't ending.  And unemployment.  Did I forget anything?

Dr. Strange, failed TV pilot

I finally finished watching the failed 1978 Dr. Strange TV pilot I talked about in a previous post.  Though, at times hokey, I would have loved it when I was a kid.  That said, even then I would have taken umbrage with the movies inconsistencies in relation to the comic book version, namely the lousy costume at the end (Purple and a yellow cape with a big star on the front of his shirt, and no Eye of Agamatto).  The Ancient One isn't called that until the end of the movie (before that he's just "the old man") and is not some centuries old Chinese mystic, but an old white dude.  Clea has brown hair and is a mere Earth mortal, rather than the niece of the Dread Dormammu.  Dr. Strange's enemy is Morgan le Fay (rather than any from his stable of usual villains), though there are a couple of baddies who appear that slightly resemble Dormammu and Nightmare (alas, no Baron Mordo, however, and Morgan's worst fear is looking old -- seriously).  There is a horrible (and I do mean horrible) love scene between Strange and Morgan which is pretty much a product of the 70's, I think, though I wouldn't have noticed that when I was a kid.

In spite of that, the movie is kind of dark and a little creepy, like the comic book and Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum is kind of cool (and there is one scene of astral projection).  It's also got a soundtrack that alternates between a late seventies scary synth sound which would make John Carpenter proud and a funky guitar bit that sounds a little like The Goblins and would fit well into any Dario Argento film (if you've seen an Argento film, you know what I'm talking about).  Yeah, it's cheesey, but so is the movie.  Unfortunately, we don't really see much of Dr. Strange as Dr. Strange since the film is an origin story.  It would have been neat to see what the makers would have done with this had it been picked up as a series.

Well, Alright! Score one for the Man!

What the hell were those pinko tree-huggers thinking anyway?

Republicans block extra taxes on oil companies

Just a few excerpts:

The Democratic energy package would have imposed a tax on any "unreasonable" profits of the five largest U.S. oil companies and given the federal government more power to address oil market speculation that the bill's supporters argue has added to the crude oil price surge. .  .

The windfall profits bill would have imposed a 25 percent tax on profits over what would be determined "reasonable" when compared to profits several years ago. The oil companies could have avoided the tax if they invested the money in alternative energy projects or refinery expansion. It also would have rescinded oil company tax breaks — worth $17 billion over the next 10 years — with the revenue to be used for tax incentives to producers of wind, solar and other alternative energy sources as well as for energy conservation. . .

Separately, Democrats also failed to get Republican support for a proposal to extend tax breaks for wind, solar and other alternative energy development, and for the promotion of energy efficiency and conservation. The tax breaks have either expired or are scheduled to end this year.

Way to go, GOP!  Way to stick it to the people!  You show them who's the boss a these here parts.  I mean, c'mon, trying to take away tax breaks from the needy rich and encourage alternative fuel sources?  What country do they think this is -- Denmark?

Big Oil -- I'm Lovin' It!

I HATE GLITTER!!!!!!

I came downstairs from my shower to find that Éiden, who has been only wearing socks and underwear since tiring of his Superman costume, was covered -- and I do mean covered -- with glitter from his eyes all the way down to his ankles.

"Éiden, how did this happen?" I ask while futilely attempting to remove the glitter from his skin.

"I wanted to see which picture was mine."

On Sunday, the boys both made glitter pictures which were placed up high on a shelf to dry.  Apparently, finding out which picture was his involved carefully removing as much glitter from the pictures as was humanly possibly and then reapplying it to every inch of bare skin.  Arrrghhh!